Bégin Military Teaching Hospital

Bégin Military Teaching Hospital is a medical facility in Saint-Mandé that combines historic buildings with modern extensions overlooking the Bois de Vincennes forest. The complex houses multiple departments dedicated to orthopedic surgery, cardiology, and endocrinology treatments.

Napoleon III ordered the establishment of this hospital in 1855 during the Crimean War, and it opened in 1858 as the Vincennes Military Hospital. The facility was built on land that once housed the royal menagerie of Vincennes Castle.

The hospital operates under the French Defence Health Service, combining medical training with patient care for both military personnel and civilians. It serves as a center where military and civilian medicine work together in daily practice.

The hospital is located on Rue de Paris with views toward the Bois de Vincennes forest, making it accessible by local transport. Keep in mind this is an active medical facility, so visitor access to certain areas may be limited.

The grounds once housed the royal animal collection of Vincennes Castle before becoming a medical facility. This link between royal heritage and modern military medicine gives the location historical depth that many visitors overlook.

Location: Saint-Mandé

Inception: 1858

Website: http://defense.gouv.fr/sante/actualites/hopital-begin-formation-d-infirmiers-civils

GPS coordinates: 48.84360,2.42656

Latest update: December 8, 2025 13:41